Oxford, ENGLAND

Oxford, the city of dreaming spires (or perspiring dreams, as the joke goes!), is undoubtedly one of the world's prettiest university towns, redolent with centuries of learning and graceful architecture. A walk down almost any of its narrow, twisting streets reveals a hidden world behind arches and wooden doors – going 'up' to Oxford is Gabby's dream and when she gets there... it's everything she dreamt it would be, and more.

Extract from sundowners:

     Gabby's first week at Oxford was everything she had ever dreamed of – and more. At first it wasn't all that different from St Anne's. There was something about the routine, the kinds of people she met at supper the first night... the cosy atmosphere in halls... it was all surprisingly familiar. She had a small but pretty little room to herself in the south quadrant of college. It had a crooked doorway and the walls weren't quite straight. 'Sinking', Mary from across the corridor smirked with satisfaction as she dropped by to borrow some sugar. 'The whole place has been sinking into Cherwell for centuries. You'll notice the doorways... we have to stoop to enter, not conquer – no pun intended. I hear people were a lot smaller back then!'